What size for a welding table?

[Hugh Jass]

What size is a good size for a welding table?
I'll be using it for motorcycle stuff mainly, maybe a the odd gate or two?
So the welding of petrol tanks and so forth mabe a bit of bashing for a mudguard bracket.

I was thinking of 4mm for the top and 2mm for a lower shelf to rest my feet on and storage and whatnot.
What size metal Should I buy for the legs and bracing? 40x40 3mm would this be strong enough or over kill?

Am I making it too weak or too strong or what?

Sorry for the daft questions, but I'm new to this welding malarkey.

 

[bigbadbugga]

you can't make it too strong

 

[Big Mick]

Make it as heavy as possible. When I did a few weeks at a local fab shop, all the benches were old cast iron surface tables or tee slot tables.
Get the heaviest top you can find/afford and something strong enough to support it, but bear in mind that you might need to move it at some point. Not really an issue if you have a forklift and a 10 ton overhead crane, but a real pain if you don't!!!

Cheers, Mick.

 

[astro_al]

There's nothing 'overkill' about 40x40x3 legs. Minimum I would say.

4mm and 2mm both seem on the thin side. 2mm is pretty wobbly for a shelf. You could get away with 4mm for the top, but if you can find the cash, go a little thicker. And support it very well structurally.

Size is entirely up to you - space you have, size of stuff you'll make and budget. Obviously go for a standard sheet size to save farting aabout resizing it all. 2 x 1 or 2.5 x 1.25 probably.

Al.

 

[Big Mick]

On the subject of heaviest you can afford, go to your local scrapyard and see what they have. It'll be much cheaper than buying stuff new.

Cheers, Mick.

 

[Engineer1964]

I agree with Big Mick

Go for the biggest, especially with a thicker top as theres nothing worst than banging on a thin top table

I bought a 25mm think 8ft x 4ft plate to make my fabricating bench which is ideal for making the balconies i make. made the legs out off offcut 120 x 100 x 8 box

The Top alone was £570 +vat

See if you can get an off cut of say 15mm plate min, that would be ideal for a smaller bench

 

[Seano]

I am just in the beginning of building a new hot bench, frame in 60x60s3 box with 3 ml castor plates and 100ml swiveling brakes castors, top will be about 6.5 ml...(due to cost)

 

[stew]

I agree with Big Mick

Go for the biggest, especially with a thicker top as theres nothing worst than banging on a thin top table

I bought a 25mm think 8ft x 4ft plate to make my fabricating bench which is ideal for making the balconies i make. made the legs out off offcut 120 x 100 x 8 box

The Top alone was £570 +vat

See if you can get an off cut of say 15mm plate min, that would be ideal for a smaller bench

looks a sweet table mate.

mine is 12mm top plate and 50x50 box frame. ive still bent the top!! would love to make one with 25mm sheet, but that is some expense. think 12mm was 250 quid +vat when i got it.

 

[astro_al]

So make the structure under it more supportive.

Al.

 

[aametalmaster]

After you get your table done build a stand with 3 legs and an adjustable column with a 6" x 6" top on it. It is perfect for little jobs that you just can't clamp to a bigger table. Plus you can raise it up to see what you are doing...Bob

 

[Hugh Jass]

OK, thanks for all the replies.
I've gone for a 6mm plate for the top.

Now all I am waiting for is the stuff to turn up tommorow.

 

[Engineer1964]

looks a sweet table mate.

mine is 12mm top plate and 50x50 box frame. ive still bent the top!! would love to make one with 25mm sheet, but that is some expense. think 12mm was 250 quid +vat when i got it.

yeah its not cheap, But if you need things to be true and level then it pays to go for the thickest you can afford, I had quite a few banconies to make so luckily the table paid for itself.

problem nowdays is steel plate is pretty expensive even reclaimed or second hand, But a good fabricating table should give you unlimited years of use if treated with respect. I clean mine every night where possible of splatter, tacks etc, ready for the next day

Another thing i've made which is bloody handy for fabricating, especially if your needing to clamp down your workpiece is a Fabricating table made from 75mm angle and the top is basically a grid of 75mm angle, ideal for clamping, i'll stick up a picture tommorrow.

Obviously a tad cheaper than using plate for the top

 

[stew]

^^^ sounds like a good idea indeed mate.

yeah like u say its all about getting a nice true platform to work from. thought my 12mm would have been fine, but over the past 3 years its got worse and worse. its well frammed up underneath too.

 

[Engineer1964]

^^^ sounds like a good idea indeed mate.

yeah like u say its all about getting a nice true platform to work from. thought my 12mm would have been fine, but over the past 3 years its got worse and worse. its well frammed up underneath too.

Thats because people forget they grind it daily to get rid of the spatter etc, over a few years your 12mm will probably end up less than 10 or more in places, But generally it all depends what you do, if your doing small light stuff or general tig work then 6mm is fine, But larger heavy items really needs a much thicker base. Again it depends on the job at hand, If the job your doing can pay for the plate then its a great investment, as opposed to buying a heavy table which would be at leasr twice the price.

I'll take a picture of the Angle Fabrication Table i also use, Its cheaper and easy to make and great for clamping, I'll post it tonight when i come back from work

 

[Robotstar5]

Thats because people forget they grind it daily to get rid of the spatter etc, over a few years your 12mm will probably end up less than 10 or more in places

Thats the reason we fit sacrificial 3mm plates to the benches in welding booths at work, usually last 3 or 4 years. I put a good tack on each corner and one on each side to hold them down, then some of the welders get bored and put runs the full length , worst one took me 2 hours to grind off for replacement!

 

[stew]

Thats because people forget they grind it daily to get rid of the spatter etc, over a few years your 12mm will probably end up less than 10 or more in places, But generally it all depends what you do, if your doing small light stuff or general tig work then 6mm is fine, But larger heavy items really needs a much thicker base. Again it depends on the job at hand, If the job your doing can pay for the plate then its a great investment, as opposed to buying a heavy table which would be at leasr twice the price.

I'll take a picture of the Angle Fabrication Table i also use, Its cheaper and easy to make and great for clamping, I'll post it tonight when i come back from work

Thats the problem. Im a farm mechanic, on a big farm. Lots to do, gets used everyday, but i dont get the budget to spend. Every scrimp and save from profit areas of the farm (e.g vining peas and beans), gets used to redeem the losses of the other things (e.g potatoes this year, soft fruit this year, and cereals every year!).

Im getting off topic though!!!

Some pics of the angle table would be good.

As for 6mm plate, thats what i have in my garage at home, and its fine for light jobs and TIG.

 

[Engineer1964]

Hi Stew,

Its a tough job on the farm mate, my hat goes off to you guys Anyway here a few piccies of my Fabricating Table made from angle

Just made from 75mm x 6mm angle, excellent for clamping down, You need to make sure its absoutely flat and level and it should last you for Years

 

[Country Joe]

Gerry,
The angle iron table - nice one, I like that - can see it coming in very handy.
I've already mentally "stolen" the idea!
All the Best,
CJ

 

[Engineer1964]

Gerry,
The angle iron table - nice one, I like that - can see it coming in very handy.
I've already mentally "stolen" the idea!
All the Best,
CJ

No Worries joe, Can you see all the Spattler and offcuts from the plasma, just falls right through, its great for clamping and very handy without the expense

 

[neilarmo]

Another angle iron table in mental construction in North Yorkshire.
Thanks